DEAN RYAN has named his strongest squad so far for

Gloucester's final pre-season clash with Glasgow this afternoon

as he builds towards the Guinness Premiership opener against

Leicester.

Iain Balshaw returns for his first start while Gareth Cooper

partners Ryan Lamb at half-back, suggesting a change of heart

from the Gloucester coach, who favoured Scot Rory Lawson for

most of last season.

James Simpson-Daniel is named on the bench for his first

action since shoulder surgery, while the old guard of Peter

Buxton and Andy Hazell slot in on the flanks as Ryan throws in

his big guns ahead of the season opener next week.

"There is a great atmosphere and unity among the squad," he

said.

"We've made it very clear that pre-season is based on

performance and maximising what we can achieve from new

combinations and relationships.

"But we have the opportunity to re-introduce some senior

players tomorrow and that is pretty key moving forward.

"We have worked very hard in pre-season, but we obviously

want to see an improvement from the Bayonne game and we have

the personnel in place to do that."

Olly Morgan slots in at full-back, with Lesley Vainikolo

completing the back three.

Captain Mike Tindall partners Anthony Allen at centre to

complete the backs.

Up front, last season's favoured front row combination –

Nick Wood, Andy Titterrell and Carlos Nieto – are reunited,

with Will James and Alex Brown partnered in the engine

room.

Luke Narraway completes the line-up in a balanced-looking

back row.

"We are closer to the type of team we are likely to play

against Leicester," Ryan said. "More of our senior players are

back in it, so I would expect to see an increase in performance

levels."

GLOUCESTER (v Glasgow, Saturday, 2pm): Olly Morgan; Iain

Balshaw, Mike Tindall (capt), Anthony Allen, Lesley Vainikolo,

Ryan Lamb, Gareth Cooper; Nick Wood, Andy Titterrell, Carlos

Nieto, Will James, Alex Brown, Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, Luke

Narraway. Reps: Olivier Azam, Dave Young, Marco Bortolami,

Alasdair Strokosch, Rory Lawson, Willie Walker, Matthew

Watkins, James Simpson-Daniel.